15 Gallon tank dimensions
24×12×12inches
Length × width × height. In metric, 61 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm.
A standard 15 gallon aquarium is 24 inches long, 12 inches front to back and 12 inches tall. Its measurements work out to almost exactly the volume on the label. Once you add gravel and leave a gap at the top, expect a little less water than that.
How much a 15 gallon tank weighs
Empty, the glass tank weighs about 20 pounds. Filled with water and two inches of gravel it comes to roughly 176 pounds, before rocks, wood or equipment.
A weight like this is fine on any sound floor, but it needs a stand built for aquariums: ordinary furniture is not made for a load that never moves.
| Empty tank | about 20 lb |
|---|---|
| Water (15 gallons) | 125 lb |
| Gravel, 2 inches deep | about 31 lb |
| Filled, with gravel | about 176 lb |
| Load on the floor | about 88 lb per sq ft |
Stand, lid, heater and filter sizes
The stand and the lid both follow the footprint, 24 by 12 inches. A stand has to support the whole bottom frame, so it can be bigger than the tank but never smaller.
The 15 gallon has the same 24 x 12 inch footprint as the 20 gallon high, so they share stands and lids.
For a heated tropical tank, a 75 W heater suits a normal room. Pick a filter rated to turn the water over four to six times an hour.
| Footprint | 24 x 12 in (2 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 15 gal (56.8 L) |
| Heater | 75 W |
| Filter flow | 60 to 90 gal per hour |
| Typical glass | about 3/16 in thick |
What fish can live in a 15 gallon tank
How many of each fish would fill this tank on its own. Mix species and the numbers come down, so plan a real community with the calculator.
- Betta1 only
- Neon tetraup to 16
- Ember tetraup to 25
- Guppyup to 8
- Harlequin rasboraup to 11
- Cherry barbup to 10
- Platyup to 10
- Panda coryup to 10
- Honey gouramiup to 6
- Dwarf gourami1 only
- Bristlenose pleco1 only
- German blue ramup to 2
Too big for this tank
- Zebra danio needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 35 x 12 in footprint.
- Bronze cory needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 31 x 12 in footprint.
- Pearl gourami needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 35 x 12 in footprint.
- Tiger barb needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 31 x 12 in footprint.
- Molly needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 35 x 12 in footprint.
- Angelfish needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 39 x 16 in footprint.
Gear for a 15 gallon tank
Searches on Amazon for the right size. Check the tank size or flow rating on the listing before you buy.
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